Columbus, OH — In a tight finish that saw nine horses covered by three lengths, Tarapasta reigned supreme in the $27,000 Fillies and Mares Open on Friday (July 26) at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
At the start, Ainthesamewithoutu (Luke Hanners) made the early lead by the :26.1 quarter with the field five in and five out exiting the first turn. Towards the :54.2 half, Alexa Skye (Dan Noble) pulled even with the leader while eventual winner Tarapasta was fourth-over. After the 1:22.4 three-quarters, the field started fanning wide, with favorite Rollin Rosie (Aaron Merriman) tipping three-wide; Racing For Three (Trevor Smith) going four-wide; and Tarapasta, who was sitting seventh at the three-quarters, five-wide coming down the stretch. Coming home in :27.2, Tarapasta and Austin Hanners won by a half length in 1:51.1. Alexa Skye was second and Rolling Rosie third.
Tarapasta is a 4-year-old Downbytheseaside mare owned by Greg Luther Racing and trained by Todd Luther. This was the mare’s second win in 10 starts this season, and she now has $293,105 in lifetime earnings.
The Friday race card also played host to seven $20,000 Buckeye Stallion Series events: four for 2-year-old pacing fillies and three for 3-year-old pacing fillies.
Downbytheaseaside fillies driven by Chris Page took two of the three 3-year-old events, with Genetic Edge winning in 1:52.2 and Gone Coastal in 1:52.1.
Gone Coastal virtually went gate-to-wire to take her division by 3-1/4 lengths for trainer Scott Betts. Out of the Shark Gesture mare Take Heed, Gone Coastal is owned by Timothy Betts and has six wins in 10 lifetime starts. The filly, unraced at 2, now has $45,731 in lifetime earnings.
Genetic Edge had a very similar trip, leading nearly gate-to-wire to win her division by 1-3/4 lengths. Trained by Tyler Rush for Diamond Dreek Racing and breeder Darby Creek Standardbreds, Genetic Edge is out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Live Wire. She now has four wins in 11 lifetime starts and $66,050 in earnings.
Laurel Court, by Nob Hill High out of the Western Ideal mare Odds On Hemera, took the third division in 1:53.1 for Jeremy Smith and trainer Brian Georges. The filly went straight to the front but yielded to sit in the pocket before coming up the passing lane to win by a neck. It was the fourth seasonal victory for Laurel Court who is owned by Scott Hagemeyer, Mel Hagemeyer and breeders Robert Mondillo and Michael Robinson. She now has $40,438 in lifetime earnings.
Trainer Steve Carter took two of the 2-year-old pacing filly divisions of the BSS when Maddie’s Delite won in 1:55.2 and Racin Like A Star won in 1:54.4.
Racin Like A Star (Jeremy Smith) is now two-for-two in the BSS after she won gate-to-wire by 1-1/2 lengths. Bred by Johnson Hill Jr. and Brent Tartar, the Racing Hill filly out of the Jenna’s Beach Boy mare Joe’s Miss Daisy was a $45,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase. She is owned by Jeff Fought Racing, Adam Friedland and Hunter Holton.
Maddie’s Delight (Dan Noble) sat in the pocket for nearly three-quarters of the mile before sprinting by the pace setter to win by 2-3/4 lengths. The Lather Up filly is out of the Western Hanover mare Moonlite Delite and is owned by SCP Stable. She now has five wins in six starts and $42,707 in earnings.
Maa Honey (Luke Hanners), by Well Said out of the Your Nemesis mare Mary Celeste, went gate-to-wire to take her division by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54. Bred by Henry Burkholder, Maa Honey was a $12,000 Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale purchase. Tyler Bates trains the filly, who now has six wins in seven starts and $28,224 in earnings, for Sean McGhee and Suzanne Bates.
Gorgeous Package (Brett Miller) took her division in 1:55 after sitting in the pocket and coming up the passing lane to win by a half length. The daughter of Lather Up out of the Western Terror mare Special Package was bred by Odds On Nourrir and is owned by Thestable Gorgeouspackage. Gorgeous Package, trained by Jason McGinnis, now has $19,300 earned in four starts and two wins.
The 90-day 2024 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet runs through Sept. 14. Races are held Tuesday-Saturday with a first post of 5:45 p.m. each day, except for Sept. 13, which will have a 6:15 p.m. post to help accommodate horsepeople attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale. More information about racing at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.